All offseason, training camp, and the preseason, the Milwaukee Bucks underwent significant changes in an effort to do many things, one of which was to pick up the pace. The team, on paper, got faster, more athletic, and younger in an effort to fix glaring issues from last season. Well, this season, none of those issues have really changed.
The Milwaukee Bucks' pace issues are still looming
Last season, the Milwaukee Bucks were 14th in pace. Then, they went out and changed up the roster, notably swapping Brook Lopez for Myles Turner. The result? Ranking 26th in pace this season. Ouch.
Some of that certainly has to do with Giannis Antetokounmpo missing significant time. However, over the last four contests since the forward returned to action, Milwaukee ranks... 27th in pace across the NBA. He's not a magic fix to this issue. It has to be a team effort. The current style of play, whether due to Doc Rivers or the personnel, just isn't going to get it done.
Pace isn't an automatic guarantee to succeed, but it can help. Last season, the OKC Thunder and Indiana Pacers both ranked top seven in pace. The result? Both teams went to the NBA Finals and duked it out for seven games. In today's youth and athleticism-driven NBA, the teams that play quick, fast-paced basketball tend to find success.
The Bucks know this. Some of Milwaukee's best basketball in recent years has come when they've played fast. In 2019-20, they played at the league's fastest pace. In 2020-21, the title-winning season, they finished the regular season second in pace. The year after, when their back-to-back bid was cut short by devastating injuries, they were third.
Now, those heights are only found in Milwaukee's dreams as they sit in the bottom five this season.
There is no magic fix for Milwaukee's current pace predicament, especially if they plan to keep Doc Rivers for the rest of the season. However, they could do themselves a favor or two by incorporating the need for pace in their current trade deadline plans. Any target the Bucks inquire about, their style of play, and how it might help the team pick up the pace must be under consideration.
For a team that has played slow and lethargically for large stretches this season, an uptick in pace could be one answer to give this Bucks squad a shot in the arm.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.